“The value is that it stops people having to use a car,” she told the commission. “The problem is it’s increasingly difficult for private hires to do what they legally need to do in the town centre.

“What we need is some sort of agreement and that there are a number of places where private hires can wait for passengers to arrive and meet up with them, where they are not going to be penalised.”

Colin Lee, a transport expert from Reading, was also invited to give evidence before the commission. He believed the town had passed its tipping point and there were now detrimental impacts on the economy.

In his submission Mr Lee said every development being built in Reading was causing some kind of decline.

He also hit out at Reading Borough Council for failing to consult properly on issues affecting people, including the now shelved one-way IDR scheme.

The public hearing was the last the commission is planning to hold but there will be two more meetings with council officers to quiz them on issues surrounding transport – in particular details on the one-way IDR scheme.

Those meetings, which can be attended by members of the public, will take place on Wednesday, March 12 and 19, at 2pm.